The Walrus Says

By Jim Munro

Sunday is the big Independence Day blast. Well, maybe not as big as in past years.

Head ‘hog Gregg Charest writes, “There’s no way we’re going to meet our original goal this year, so we changed our order with Telstar. But I’m an eternal optimist, so I still set a goal for the ‘hogs that we need help meeting. In other words, we still need money to blow up! Donations have been coming in over the past few days, but we’re still cutting it really close.”

Gregg added, “Did I mention the Jamestown Community Band will play this year? They will start their concert close to 8 p.m. on the beach. Parking information is on our website, Rockethogs.com, as well as a complete list of this year’s individual and corporate sponsors.

We’ll see everyone on the beach this Sunday evening, fireworks to start just after sundown, figure around 9 p.m.!”

KA-BOOM!

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The song sung along the Newport waterfront during Gretel’s visit was “Waltzing Matilda.”

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In answer to Peter C. Pemantell’s question, “Where was the Rhode Island State Department of Public Works garage and name two people that worked there?” Linda Albaugh replied that the state had two buildings. “One on Narragansett Avenue and the other on Clinton Avenue next to the buildings that Nick Robertson built. The garage was between Jean Conent’s house and the Campo’s. All the equipment was stored there. Ben Merritt and George Arnold worked there. Later Mack Storey moved in.”

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Richard D. Smith writes from Naples, FL, that the R.I. Department of Transportation was located on Clinton Avenue, the second building on the left going south. “The crew was Jack Smith, foreman (my father); Ben Merritt, driver; Joe Mello, assistant driver, George Arnold; George Burns and Lloyd Wright. Lloyd would go back and forth to Newport wearing his captain hat on Saturdays. Many riders of the ferry in those days would see Lloyd and were curious if he was actually the captain of the Governor Carr ferry boat.

“I want to address where Jon Brazil’s shoe store was. I think that it was the third building after Moll’s garage on the right going toward West Ferry.”

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Capt. Robb Roach’s “Stella” recently had a boat load. Of kids, not fish. He was taking part in “Take a Kid Fishing Day” and had eight youngsters from Providence aboard. The event was sponsored by the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association. Kudos!

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The Men’s Chorus of Jamestown is in practice sessions Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Grange Hall. On this year’s menu are: Song of the Russian Earth; The National Anthem, An die Musik...Schubert, St. James Infirmary – American blues, Aura Lee, Ts’ints’qaro – Georgian folk melody, Play For Me a Simple Melody – Berlin, arr. Shaw, Good Morning Mr. Zip, Zip, Zip – U.S. Army song, Kiss Me Good-night Sergeant Major/Bless ‘em All, and One More Day – trad. chantey.

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No takers on Peter C. Pemantell’s question, where was Mack Storey’s shop where he manufactured Heat O Vector wood stoves? Has he finally stumped everyone?

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Kudos to islander Shirley Bell who has won a LOUIE award from the Greeting Card Association.

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Last Friday was the first time in two weeks that I’d driven past the sea wall construction site on Conanicut Avenue. No change. Have they given up?

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“You know” is certainly embedded in the lexicon.

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It must be summer. There’s gridlock at the four corners.

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They’re not painting the sky as blue this year...................

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The copy of the Jamestown Town Crier of Aug. 14, 1926, that we referred to in the June 11 column was dropped off at the Press by Pauline Lathan, who had discovered it in an old photo album.